THEORETICAL DEBATES - Values

Question 1

What is Subjectivity?

Answer 1

Judgement based on individual personal impressions and opinions.

Question 2

What is Objectivity?

Answer 2

Judgement based on observable phenomena and facts.

Question 3

What is Value Freedom? HINT: FREE FROM!

Answer 3

This is the idea that social research should not be influenced by the researcher’s beliefs, ideas and values.

Question 4

Is Value Freedom Positivist or Interpretivist?

Answer 4

POSITIVIST - No values!

Question 5

What is Value Laden? HINT: Overrun!

Answer 5

Where the social research is influenced and overrun with loads of the researcher’s beliefs, ideas and values.

Question 6

What is Committed Sociology?

Answer 6

This means that values are imperative and important in sociology.

Question 7

How many ways can values impact social research?

Answer 7

5

Question 8

What are the 5 ways that values can impact social research?

Answer 8

1. Individual values
2. Your choice of research
3. Your methods of research
4. Your interpretation of the data
5. The recognition of the impact of the research on society and its groups

Question 9

Is Value Laden Positivist or Interpretivist?

Answer 9

INTERPRETIVIST - However, it can be either.

Question 10

Is Committed Sociology Positivist of Interpretivist?

Answer 10

INTERPRETIVIST - Committed Sociology is less scientific.

Question 11

What Sociologist says that Sociology should be Value Free?

Answer 11

Durkheim!

Question 12

What did Durkheim say about Sociology being Value Free?

Answer 12

This links to Durkheim’s study of suicide! Durkheim said that social facts exist and says that Sociology should be scientific and objective, in order to not be biased.

Question 13

Which Sociologist opposes Value Free Sociology and says that it is a ‘myth’?

Answer 13

Gouldner! He states that “Value-free sociology is a myth” and he believes that it is impossible to put your values to the side.

Question 14

Which Sociologist supports the Value Laden argument and says that values should partly be part of research?

Answer 14

Weber!

Question 15

What does Weber say in his Value Laden argument?

Answer 15

He says that it is INEVITABLE that values will be there influencing some parts of a sociologists’ research (such as their choice of topic and how they interpret their data). However, he says that for other aspects (such as the data collection of the study) values should not be involved!

Question 16

Give an example of a sociologist who used their own personal interests, beliefs and characteristics in their work! HINT: There are 2 possible answers written here!

Answer 16

Plummer - Published work on sexual issues and ‘queer theory’ because of his own sexual preference. Perhaps this area may have been difficult for people who are not part of the community/have certain values, like Plummer did.

Ann Oakley - She writes from the Feminist perspective that combats the mainstream view of male sociologists; perhaps this area may be difficult for men to write about?

Question 17

What does Gouldner say about the Committed View in sociology?

Answer 17

Gouldner says that it is “unavoidable” and “undesirable” to not have values in research. He also states that, if a sociologist does include values in their work, they should make this clear and mention them in their research, in order to clear up any bias.

Question 18

What does Becker say about the view of Committed Sociology?

Answer 18

Becker says that values must be in sociology, especially when speaking about the topic a sociologist chooses for their research. Becker says that sociologists should fight and speak up for the underdogs of sociology who do not have a voice/much representation, such as minority groups!

Question 19

Other than values, what 2 factors can guide a sociologist to a specific topic of research?

Answer 19

• Historic Context
• Money from institutions (like the government)

Question 20

What is one criticism of Committed Sociology, regarding what is ‘right’ and what is ‘wrong’?

Answer 20

A person’s belief about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ is subjective, personal and cannot be tested. This means that it may be hard for sociologists to identify their own values and measure the impact and influence of these values and preferences on their research.